Annie Leonard’s “Story of Stuff”—how to use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without

Stuff. We’ve got a lot of it, we don’t share it well, and some of it is even toxic. Annie Leonard first tackled the story of stuff in her online “Story of Stuff” video, which went viral a few years ago. The simple cartoon explained the processes our stuff goes through on its journey from natural resource, to product, to waste. Now, for those who care to dig deeper, she’s adding a book component. “The Story of Stuff,” the book, is a fast-paced exposé on the hidden environmental and social costs of our current systems of production and consumption and further explores the negative impact that our current “take, make, waste” philosophy has on our lives and our planet.